A brand new Volvo was destroyed just four hours after its new owner picked up the keys because the driver 'didn't read the handbook'.

Officers from Devon's Road Police Alliance tweeted this picture of a brand new Volvo V40 looking rather sorry for itself after it smashed into the back of an HGV on the A30 near Cheriton Bishop on Saturday afternoon.

Police said no injuries were reported in the crash as one officer tweeted: "Brand new Volvo meets slowing down Artic lorry. Not pretty, but no injuries. A30 westbound at Cheriton Bishop."

Volvo V40 (Image: Alliance RPT @RoadPolAlliance)

The officer later added: "The moral of the story is read your handbook, don't try to figure out Cruise Control by looking down at wheel buttons! New car lasted 4hrs!"

As well as cruise control the new Volvo come with city safety - front facing radar designed to prevent accidents by stopping the car automatically.

The car's multiple airbags have been deployed, including the bonnet airbags to avoid injuries to pedestrians.

The car's city safety feature only works at up to 35mph, but police revealed the car was travelling at the national speed limit before it crashed.